Class blog for Anth 249: Evolution and human disease. We will be responding to class readings and engaging with the wider network of blogs and online content on evolutionary medicine. We might also make up some fun projects along the way.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Researcher Viruses in Contaminated Water

I did not see Group 4 for this week - not sure if I need to post a blog.

So I decided to play it safe and did some research on viruses in contaminated water. A good example of parasites in contaminated water is in the Sub-Saharan in Africa and South Asia. In these developing countries there are people living in extreme poverty. In addition, these individuals do not have access to safe water, clean sanitation, nor instructions for good hygiene. Large areas in Asia have no access to sanitary disposal of human waste. Therefore, failure to dispose of waste properly can contaminate water and food sources leading to an increase in the transmission of pathogens orally. Consequently, this has lead to the spread of waterborne parasites that infect and kill 8.8 million children a year. These parasites are ingested orally, enters into the intestines, and effect the liver and brain. As a result, many are ill, their growth are stunted, whether or not children enroll in school, and it impairs proper mental and physical development.

There are numerous parasites and pathogens that contaminate children as they are bathing or playing in the water. Unfortunately, it is the same body of water that is used for defecating, or cleaning fecal matter from the body or soiled clothes. Other parasites and pathogens include waterborne parasites; Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia Intestinalis, Cryptosporidium Parvum.
In addition, there are bacterial enteropathogens; salmonella (found in chicken, ground beef, and turtles), Shigella (can be found in men who have sex with men), Escherichia Coli, Vibrio Cholerae.

I found this information in my Global Health textbook by Richard Skolnik (2012), chapter 8, and
The Center for Disease and Prevention (2010). www.cdc.gov.